Severe June heat wave scorches region, records shattered

By Reginald Stanley. Posted June 20, 2016, 1:38 PM.

A strong high pressure system over northern Mexico combined with dry offshore flow brought triple-digits to much of the region Sunday, and it's expected to only be hotter on Monday.

Temperatures soared past the 100 degree mark this week, and over 110 degrees at many locations - a rare occurrence of June. The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings for most of Southern California away from the immediate beaches. Red Flag Warnings are also in effect until further notice. Low humidity and excessive heat are contributing to very dangerous conditions outside. WeatherCurrents advises staying properly hydrated at all times, and avoiding outdoor activities if possible. Keep pets indoors and do not leave children or pets unattended in vehicles for any length of time.

Such severe heat waves are not common in June, when the marine layer is usually still dominant. Comparable, although less severe heat waves occurred in June of 1979, 1981, 1990 and 2008. As of this writing, 16 of 18 operating WeatherCurrents stations have exceeded 100 degrees Monday afternoon, and 9 of them have exceeded 110 degrees. Lake Elsinore currently leads the way with a high of 115 degrees - the hottest temperature ever recorded at that location since at least 2005. Wildomar and San Jacinto were not far behind, with temperatures of 114 and 113 degrees respectively.

The heat is expected to peak Monday afternoon. Temperatures will drop to the mid-90s for the remainder of the week.

The De Luz, California weather pages are a service of WeatherCurrents. De Luz is located west of the Temecula Valley and north of Fallbrook, on the Santa Rosa Plateau, in southwestern Riverside County, California.